The Indiana Fever dismissed general manager Amber Cox and announced that team president Kelly Krauskopf is stepping down. The front-office shakeup on October 23, 2026, follows a first-round playoff exit and precedes a high-stakes offseason featuring Caitlin Clark’s contract extension eligibility and Kelsey Mitchell’s unrestricted free agency.
Front-office upheaval has hit Indianapolis. Pacers Sports & Entertainment confirmed that general manager Amber Cox was fired on October 23, 2026, just hours after team president Kelly Krauskopf stepped down from her role (according to CBS Sports). Krauskopf had informed the organization of her departure before the conclusion of the regular season.
Kelly Krauskopf will step down as team president, closing an extraordinary chapter in a career of nearly three decades with PS&E in which she built the Fever from its founding, delivered the franchise’s first WNBA championship, and helped open doors for women across professional… pic.twitter.com/lL3fcPW3is
The simultaneous exits mark a dramatic restructuring for an organization facing intense scrutiny following a first-round playoff loss to the Las Vegas Aces. Despite securing a franchise-record 28 wins during the 2026 regular season under head coach Stephanie White, the Fever failed to advance past the opening round for the second consecutive year.
Cox Helps Build Roster Around Cornerstone Players
Cox had previously spent time as the chief operating officer of the Dallas Wings, and also worked in executive roles at the Wings from 2022 to 2024 and the Connecticut Sun from 2016 to 2021. Guided by Krauskopf, the franchise captured its sole championship in 2012 while also making championship round appearances in 2009 and 2015. During her tenure, Cox helped construct a roster around cornerstone players Caitlin Clark, Aliyah Boston, and Kelsey Mitchell.
BREAKING: The Indiana Fever are firing general manager Amber Cox, multiple sources who have knowledge of the decision told The Athletic.https://t.co/l3OtSkOqWL
Following the implementation of the league’s new collective bargaining agreement, the front office handed out multiyear commitments that failed to yield starting production. As IndyStar reported, the Fever still carry Monique Billings and Lexie Hull on the books for substantial sums apiece for next season as the result of a pair of disastrous deals Krauskopf and Cox handed out last offseason. Other roster swings, including deals for Tyasha Harris at $400,000 and Myisha Hines-Allen at $315,000, ultimately saw those players relegated to brief appearances off the bench by season’s end.
Leadership Faces Decisions on Clark and Mitchell
The incoming leadership group faces immediate roster decisions, notably regarding Caitlin Clark and Kelsey Mitchell. Clark is eligible for an Exceptional Performance on Initial Contract provision that could net her a projected $1.3 million maximum salary in 2027. Clark previously indicated she intends to remain in Indiana regardless of whether she immediately signs an extension.
Mitchell, who averaged a team-high 24.7 points per game on 51 percent shooting—including 45 percent from three-point range—is an unrestricted free agency departure risk. The Fever cannot use the core designation to retain her (as SB Nation noted), leaving her future in Indianapolis genuinely uncertain.
I have to be selfish. I think that’s where I am in my career … what I probably need and what’s probably best for me. So I have to be selfish in that room.
Kelsey Mitchell, Indiana Fever guard, via CBS Sports
Mitchell recently spoke candidly about the relentless negativity directed at athletes in the franchise, prompting an impassioned defense from Clark.
We have announced the departure of COO and GM Amber Cox. pic.twitter.com/REa1DKNdTm
Leadership Transition and Head Coach Stephanie White’s Status
While the franchise searches for a new president and general manager, head coach Stephanie White is expected to remain in her position (according to USA Today). Taking into account her 55-25 record accumulated across two seasons with the Sun, her overall WNBA head coaching record sits at 144-92, translating to a .610 winning percentage. White also coached at the college level, where she went 64-97 in six seasons at Vanderbilt.
Pacers Sports & Entertainment will conduct a national search for a replacement general manager. Meanwhile, the organization is investing $78 million in a new performance center scheduled to open in 2027.
Can confirm Indiana Fever GM Amber Cox has been fired. (Confirming @AnnieCostabile). More TK.
More on Amber Cox
The Indiana Fever fired general manager Amber Cox, sources told ESPN, confirming a report by The Athletic. Cox's removal follows a Friday morning announcement that team president Kelly Krauskopf had stepped down.https://t.co/7TK1ZwDA2W
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